Lawmakers made a difficult decision when they cut more than $200 million from the state’s health care system for the poor, but doing so wasn’t unconstitutional, Senate President Russell Pearce and House Speaker Andy Tobin argued yesterday in a brief opposing a lawsuit that aims to block the cuts.

Citing the Arizona Constitution, a 2000 ballot measure and even a dictionary definition of the word “available,” attorneys for Gov. Jan Brewer have asked the Arizona Supreme Court to reject a lawsuit filed by a liberal advocacy group against an upcoming Medicaid enrollment freeze.

Attorney Tim Hogan on Monday filed a request for a special action with Arizona Supreme Court aimed at blocking cuts to the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, a move that could unbalance the fiscal year 2012 budget by hundreds of millions of dollars.

Attorney Tim Hogan said he will file his long-awaited lawsuit against an upcoming round of Medicaid cuts by the end of month, giving the courts a chance to stop the proposal before the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System can implement a partial enrollment freeze on July 1.

Gov. Jan Brewer, Senate President Russell Pearce and House Speaker Andy Tobin met for an hour Tuesday to discuss some of the biggest issues facing the state during the legislative off-session, but made no decisions on calling lawmakers back to the Capitol for a special session.

Gov. Jan Brewer has completed action on bills passed by the Legislature during its 2011 regular session. But now she and others are talking about the possibility of a special session, either in the fall or sooner.

An understanding of the U.S. education system can increase parent involvement, but it’s not the only factor. Economic pressures, basic parenting skills and parents’ relationships with their children must also be addressed, according to Julie Rosen, executive director of the parent-support group Parenting Arizona.

Arizona has received word from federal officials allowing the state to start implementation of the first phase of Gov. Jan. Brewer's plan to reduce Medicaid enrollment to help balance the state budget.